Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians assigned to Commander, Task Group (CTG) 56.1 conducted a scuba diving subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) with divers from the Bahrain Coast Guard (BCG) at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Oct. 26-28.

The SMEE gave the EOD technicians and the BCG divers a chance to work together to improve their inter-operability.

"The end goal (of the SMEE) is good communication and a good dive team that we can count on when we are in need of extra personnel and effort in this area," said Senior Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Donovan Trost, assigned to CTG 56.1.

The event gave EOD technicians and BCG divers a chance to exchange techniques and equipment used during a dive.

"We went over basic search techniques underwater," said Trost. "(We) went over some more advanced tools and utilized our underwater imaging system. We showed that to them and employed that during a dive."

On the final day they test the ability to operate together as a team.

"For the final day of this exchange I wanted to exercise the ability of us calling and contacting the Bahrain Coast Guard, getting tasks, meeting up out at sea at a certain GPS point and working together," said Trost.

The BCG divers also provided the EOD technicians with valuable information to help them in the area.

"They had a couple of great apps on their phone for navigation in this area," said Trost. "They showed me how to get out to the sunken ship, how to navigate back and a lot of other charts and technologies that I wasn't exposed to being from the U.S."

The U.S. Navy divers and EOD technicians have been working with BCG divers for the last 8 to 10 years. Additional SMEEs are planned for future dates explained Trost.

CTG 56.1 conducts mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal, salvage-diving and force protection operations throughout the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.